Keep in mind that Marko has a personal interest to keep his Academy drivers coming into the two Red Bull teams, instead of drivers coming from outside like Perez and Ricciardo
In this case I think it's more than self promotion and shit stirring. He knows the future of red bull after Max isn't in a Formula 1 car, and that's kind of his job to take care of.
Checo is doing Checo things, forever trying to replicate his last to first drive.
Danny is more of a supersub driver than a prospect driver at this point. It's pitiful, but it is what it is.
Yuki shows flashes of brilliant driving but just can't seem to impress anyone at Red Bull enough to be considered for the main team.
That leaves basically no one besides the academy drivers, and I think the point he's making is it doesn't make a lot of sense to tread water with 'average' drivers when you could be developing someone else with a higher ceiling.
Imo Yuki would be better in a main RB seat, just because of the car. I think he'd pretty consistently be in the lower points places.
Is Ricciardo not technically an academy driver?
Technically, as in 10 years ago, yes. But I dont think Marko was involved in his comeback at AlphaTauri/RB.
I my opinion they should give Lawson a shot at Red Bull just like Gasly and Albon but with more managed expectations, do well and you can have that seat. Lawson is highly unlikely to challenge Max and they get a hungry rear gunner looking for points to help them in the WCC.
If Lawson proves his worth in that seat, Red Bull could have a strong driver pairing behind McLaren(Lando and Oscar are the strongest pair on the grid right now) and they also get a replacement ready for when Max decides to leave F1 or Red Bull.
He should have already been in the Scuderia Toro Tauri Bulls car this year and depending on his quality, be a candidate for the main team. Now Audi are interested in him and it's either to lose him or put him in a car.
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